DAVAO CITY— A poultry farm project undertaken by the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) in partnership with San Miguel Foods Corporation was inaugurated on Nov. 9 in Barangay Labon, Municipality of Sulop, Davao del Sur.
The modern poultry farm consists of two poultry houses which can accommodate 40,000 heads of broiler chicken per house. The project aims to provide an adequate supply of chicken in Mindanao and to increase broiler chicken production in Davao Region that would help stabilize the prices of chicken in the market.
“There was a feasibility study before that there was a shortage of chicken in Mindanao, that is why even San Miguel Corporation put up a big poultry farm here in Davao del Sur. And SPDA was also in the past years in the poultry business,” says SPDA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Abdulghani Gerry Salapuddin.
He cited the partnership of the SPDA with San Miguel Foods in realizing the project.
“We entered into a contract San Miguel Foods Corporation they provide us with all the chicks, the technology including technical support and then all the products that we produce they buy from us. So, they’d be the one to market and distribute it in Mindanao,” Salapuddin said.
He said the project took two years to be fulfilled as initially it was originally planned to be established in Zamboanga City but they could not agree with the land owners of the proposed site in Zamboanga.
“I told our executive committee to look for an alternative site outside Zamboanga City which is near the city center but far from the populated area and finally Mr. Cris Dagala, project manager found this lot,” Salapuddin recalls.
For the first phase of the poultry farm project SPDA has allocated P54-million and for the expansion they are eyeing P98-million.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who graced the poultry farm inauguration asked the SPDA that local residents be employed in the farm.
“Kung naay ing-ani na project dako kaayo tsansa na mga tao diri gatambay-tambay pwede sila ma-employ given the right training, the right skills and improvement para sa ing-ini na trabaho.” Senator dela Rosa said.
(With this project there is a big chance that people those that are idle could gain employment given the right training, the right skills and improvement required for the job.)
The Senator noted the progress and development in Sulop which used to have peace and order problems in the past. Senator dela Rosa reiterated that he will give support to any development initiatives the SPDA and the local government would want to implement in the area.
“As your senator and humble sponsor of the SPDA budget in the Senate, I am deeply committed in supporting initiatives, specially those that create impact that is not only real but also lasting just like this project, ” Senator dela Rosa said in his speech at the inauguration. (PIA/RGA photos by JSD)
